Freezing rain has led to a fatal 55-car pileup on Interstate 95 in Baltimore early Saturday morning.
Dramatic cell phone footage captured by a bystander shows a tanker trucker sliding off the icy highway as it approached the pileup, leading to a massive explosion. The witness, Owings Mills-resident Marvellous Amasiatu, pulled over after his car began to slip on the northbound lanes around 3:30 a.m.
“Cars and trucks were coming in at 50 and 60 miles an hour. They were sliding and slamming, and I stayed on the line with 911 and had the video on for about five minutes.” he said.
“I was traumatized. I wish I could have helped. [The driver] could not stop. . . . People could not see what was ahead of them.”
Vehicles were still being removed from the highway as of 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
This photo shows the remains of the tanker truck.
In total, 55 vehicles were involved in the pileup. Two people died and 15 others were reported injured.
Northbound traffic remains blocked off and is currently being diverted to east Interstate 695.
NB I-95 traffic is detoured at I-695 (Ex49) via Key Bridge. Crash scene remains at Caton Ave (Ex50). #baltraffic #mdtraffic #mdotnews pic.twitter.com/Dnl86N39D2
— MDTA (@TheMDTA) December 17, 2016
NEW details RE: NB I-95 crash at Caton Ave. 55 vehicles confirmed to be involved. 40 of those still to be cleared from roadway. #mdotnews
— MDTA (@TheMDTA) December 17, 2016
UPDATE: SB I-95 REOPENED in Baltimore. All NB I-95 traffic still diverted to EB I-695, crash invest. & cleanup con't #mdotnews #baltraffic
— MDTA (@TheMDTA) December 17, 2016
Update (12/17/2016 8:58 p.m.):
The Northbound lanes have partially reopened.
UPDATE: All SB I-95 lanes open from crash cleanup. NB I-95 2 left remain closed at Caton Ave (Ex50). 2 right are open. #mdtraffic #mdotnews
— MDTA (@TheMDTA) December 18, 2016